Directional aerial and apparatus for use therewith



JuneZ, 1936. w 2,042,931

DIRECTIONAL AERIAL AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH Filed Sept 31, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 my. 1y

INVENTOR HARRY A, EWEN ATTORNEY June 2, 1936. HA. EWEN 2,042,931

DIRECTIONAL AERIAL AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH Filed Sept. 21, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR RY E N E I I I I I I I '14 mu m June 2, 1936. H. A. EWEN 2,042,931

DIRECTIONAL AERIAL AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH Filed Sept 21; 1932 (Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR HARRY A. EN

U KTTO EY Patented June 2, 1936 PATENT OFFICE DIRECTIONAL AERIAL AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH Harry Alexander Ewen, Shenfield, England, assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application September 21, 1932, Serial No. 634,133

' V In Great Britain October 22, 1931 r 3 Claims.

This invention relates to directional aerials and apparatus for use therewith and has for its object to provide an improved aerial structure suitable for use, for example on submarines.

According to this invention a directional aerial structure comprises a directional aerial system which is protected against water and weather and is mounted upon a carrier which is so arranged that it can be telescoped within another carrier when the aerial system is out of use.

Preferably the aerial system itself is mounted to be collapsible and preferably also the mechanical design is such that the aerial system is collapsed automatically when its carrier is telescoped down into the out-of-use position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 to 6 show one form of construction and Figure 7 shows a modification.

Figure 1 is an elevation showing one form of apparatus in telescoped position and mounted on a submarine. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation showing the apparatus in telescoped position. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation showing the apparatus extended for use. Figure 4 is a section to a larger scale taken on the line CD of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a section to a larger scale taken on the line EF of Figure 3. Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view showing the top of the member 3. Figure '7 is a schematic sectional elevation showing in extended position a. construction embodying an aerial hoisting apparatus differ ent from that incorporated in the construction of Figures 1 to 6.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 in the construction therein illustrated Bellini-Tosi aerials I consisting of wires mounted in rubber sheaths which protect the wires from the effect of water when submerged, are mounted upon a tubular support 2 which is so arranged that it can be telescoped into an outer tubular support 3 secured tothe main deck of a submarine or other vessel. The outer tubular support contains and protects the aerial hoisting mechanism which may conveniently consist of a pair of screwed rods 4 running parallel to the axis of said outer tubular support, said rods being arranged to be rotatable by means of gear Wheels 5 meshing with a central driving gear wheel 6; i. e. keyed to the bottom of each rod is a gear Wheel 5 the said gear wheel meshing with a third gear wheel 6 situated between them, said third gear wheel being arranged to be driven, when required, either by hand or by means of an electric motor or in any other convenient manner from within the submarine. The deck of the submarine or the outer tubular support carries the lower bearings 1 within which the screwed rods are rotatably mounted, the said rods being held at their upper ends by bearings 8 attached to the tubular support 3.

The screwed rods 4 are bridged by a bridge piece 9 containing nut members In engaging said screwed rods, said bridge piece carrying the inner tubular structure 2 which in turn carries the Bellini-Tosi aerial system. The Bellini-Tosi aerial system is collapsible, and consists'rof a structure which when opened consists of a pair of diamond-like aerials at right angles to one another, the system being foldable in eifect by extending the vertical diagonal of the diamond so that the arms thereof fold down upon and lie against or in the tubular structure to'whichthey are in effect hinged. Assume the aerial structure to be in telescoped position with the aerial system foldedz-then, when the motor or other driving gear is operated, the screwed rods 4 will be rotated and the tubular support 2 directly carrying the aerial system will be pushed vertically upwards from Within the outer tubular structure within which it was telescoped. During the vertical upward travel of the inner tubular structure, the aerial system is opened out automatically and closed automatically when the tubular members are collapsed into one another. This may be effected in any convenient way, for example, the sliding guide rod Il may be made sufficiently heavy to cause the aerial normally to spread into the position shown in Figure 3, the folding up of the aerial being accomplished as the tubes are telescoped into one another by the engagement of the arms l2 with the walls of the tapered slots or guides I3 in the top I4 of the tube 3. If desired, the action of the weight of the rod II and associated parts may be reinforced by springs l5 which are attached at l6 and I1 (see Figures 4 and 5).

Referring now to Figure 1 which is illustrative of a preferred method of mounting for submarine use I8 is the pressure hull of the submarine and, as will be seen, the aerial tubular structure is installed in the place of the pillar structure of similar shape to the aerial structure (when collapsed) which is ordinarily provided on submarines for purposes of protection against mines; that is to say, the aerial structure acts also (when collapsed) as a mine protection pillar and serves to carry the ordinarily provided mine wire defence [9. Thus the arrangement shown in Figure 1 offers the important practical advantage of providing a directional aerial system mast 23.

and the overall height of the directional aerial the hull at 30. 1 t t and screw-randwithout external and possibly obstructive structure greater than that which would in any case be provided. The mine wire defence l9 may also be employed to support an additional aerial (not shown) for use when the submarine is awashJ The lead in forthis aerial is indicated at 20 and the same leading in device 2i may be utilized for the'main' normally provided aerial 22 which is carriedas in the usual Way upon a 24 represents the submarine periscopes structure 23 should, be such that, w hen ;fully extended, it does not impede the view through the periscopes. It will be noted that the amount of alteration required as to the pressure hull of the submarine is very small and that the only water tight seals which need'be made are through In place of employing a gear nut'drivefor hoisting the inner tubular member, thesaid member may be raised and lowered'as indicated in Figure '7 by means of a steel wire or similar rope 25 anchored at 26 to theupper part of the outer supportingtube 3 and passing over Y upon" submarines although the constructions herein described are particularly advantageous for such use, I r V Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mysaid invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

l. A directional aerial carrier system capable 9i collapsing, comprising a plurality of wires within a rubber sheath, said wires supported by a centraltubular member, a protective cap over the top of said central tubular member, mechanical means for elevating said central tubular member by a pair of threaded members contained within a vertical outside tubular support and secured i to said central tubular member, said threaded members being rotated simultaneously ,4 by an electric motor so as tocollapse said aerial system within said central tubular member and lowering v said central tubular member within said vertical outside tubular support when said aerial is not in use.

2. Adirectional aerial system comprising a said means comprising a plurality of arms connected to said loop and said central carrier member, means for elevating said central carrier member by a plurality of threaded rods located within'said outer supporting member and secured to said central carrier member, said threaded rods being arranged for rotation to collapse said loop aerial when said carrier member is lowered within said central support.

3. A directional collapsible aerial system comprising a central tubular support, a pair of diamond-shaped aerials capable of collapsing, said aerials secured to aplurality of arms pivoted within said central tubular support and located at right angles to each other, mechanical means for moving the central tubular support, said pivoted arms and the pair of'aerials within a tubular outer support by a pair of vertically arranged threaded rods having mechanical engagement with the central tubular support, guide members in the upper portion of said central tubular support for collapsing said aerials when not in use within the outer tubular support.

- HARRY ALEXANDER EWEN. 

